Eastern Michigan football player Demarius Reed died from an apparent gunshot wound, the university confirmed Friday.

Ypsilanti Police Sgt. Thomas Eberts told the Ann Arbor News that a man's body was found in the hallway of an apartment complex about 7:15 a.m. by his roommate. The victim appeared to have been shot to death. Authorities have launched an off-campus homicide investigation.

The 5-10, 161-pound Reed played in six games this season, catching 15 passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He made 18 receptions for 171 yards and scored a touchdown in nine games last season.

"The circumstances involving (Reed's) death remain under investigation at this time by the Ypsilanti Police Department," school president Susan Martin said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends, and his teammates on the football team."

She said Eastern Michigan public safety officials were in close contact with Ypsilanti police. Grief counselors met Friday with Reed's teammates, other students and faculty. An afternoon forum was scheduled at the Student Center Auditorium to discuss the case with the campus community.

A Saturday home game against Ohio University will be played as scheduled.

Heather Lyke, vice president and athletic director at the school, said Eastern Michigan had suffered "an unbelievable loss."

"Demarius was an influential leader who thrived in the classroom and on the field," she said. "Everyone gravitated to him and often described him as the 'life of the locker room.'"

Current football players at Reed's high school alma mater, Chicago Simeon—perhaps best known as the high school of NBA star Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls—had little to say as they arrived for Friday afternoon's game against Foreman High School.

Before the game, they gathered around his jersey, which was hung on a fence near the end zone. They said a prayer and dedicated the game to him.

Others expressed sympathy for Reed's family and his younger brother, who now plays for Simeon.

"You're thinking about his family," Halethia Jones, a parent of a Simeon football player, told WLS-TV. "I'm thinking especially about his younger brother, who is my son's friend. And I know his family's hurt, and we just want to send our prayers and condolences out to them."

Reed's grandfather Joe L. Reed said he found irony in the tragedy of his grandson's slaying: Demarius was able to survive the dangerous streets of Chicago only to become a victim in an off-campus apartment building in the perceived safety of a university community.

"He was an outgoing, beautiful kid. He wasn't associated with no gang or anything," Joe L. Reed said. "I would say, 'Hey man. Don't go outside.' I wouldn't let him associate with anybody over there."